In the city

Musician and composer Chris Avinash takes on a new avatar as an entertainment designer for the space, Kyra. It is set to open its doors to Bangaloreans this month, with promises of a new entertainment package, combining food and performances like never before. In a chat with Nirmala Ravindran, he explains what’s in store.

Q. What is the concept behind Kyra?A. There aren’t enough performance spaces in Bangalore for theatre enthusiasts, especially in a restaurant.

We, at Kyra, will now enter a segment that not many people have dabbled in, and host theatre shows and related activities on a regular basis, which will all unfold on a 30 ft stage with great sound and lighting. The floor below will be a fine-dining destination.

Q. Who is behind this venture?A. There are several partners who also felt the need for a space like this. The details are being worked out and will be announced once the restaurant opens. I will be designing the entertainment package.

Q. What is the USP of this space?A. Though there is no dearth of performing spaces, artists and theatre groups have to pay for them. At Kyra attention will be paid to performances.

We will pay the actor. Great food and drinks will be incidental. We are currently filling up a calendar of events for the year, and intend to have plays and theater-related performances four days a week.

The location is prime and open to all. We have the space, the facilities and a large cross section of audience that has been waiting for something like this. We are also currently in talks with theatre groups, folk dancers and village artisans across the country, offering them this platform for their shows.

Q. What are the kind of programmes you plan to host here?A. You can watch plays, adaptations of musicals or monologues on certain days. You can witness a murder mystery on other days or listen to the in-house contemporary jazz act, choirs, acapella groups and baul music. You can be a part of the Speakers Forum. The entertainment will be holistic, keeping in mind an intelligent and evolved audience.

GEM OF AN IDEA

Those out there who believe in the power of gems and stones, Gemstone Universe will be a God sent. The brainchild of Vedic expert and founder of astromandir. com, Guru Arnav, the showroom houses authentic precious and semi-precious gems set in gold and silver.

The store also offers exclusive astrology and gemology consultations by the Planetary Gemology Assocation. Plus, you can buy spiritual artifacts. If you are a non-believer, you can still check out the stones of your choice without deliberating on the other aspects.

The showroom offers gemstones with certification and a 75 per cent buyback guarantee on all gems. However, only astrologically-potent gemstones are on sale.

The idea behind the store, besides selling gemstones, is to create awareness regarding the power of gemstones to heal and improve the quality of life of the wearer. The 2,000 sq ft space is located in Bridage Room, past EVA mall.

HUGS TO MAKE YOU SMILE

"When you feel bad, you need a hug. We’re just here to give you a hug and bring that smile back on your face,” says Andre Peter, one of the organisers of the Free Hugs rally held in the city last month.

A bunch of young people got together on M.G. Road to hug random people on the road, thereby bringing instant smiles and embarrassed blushes on several faces. Free Hugs was started in Australia by Juan Mann who believed that everybody in this fast-paced world requires a hug. He thought that this would take people back to the simple days when nobody judged, hated or feared anybody. To carry forward his idea, people across the world started aping the Free Hugs campaign.

One of the first people to adopt this idea was musician A.R. Rahman in a television commerical. Following this, four boys in four cities, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Bangalore started a public campaign for free hugs.

Over 40 people took part in the rally in Bangalore and over a hundred received surprise hugs. Viren Peres, a participant, said, “This was a fun activity. People look at you funnily when you walk up to them and give them a hug, but in the end they are all smiles.”

With 2008 ending on a sad note, with terror and hatred, suspicion and security threats in the city, the power of a hug seemed a perfect gift for every citizen.

The campaign will continue at regular intervals in Bangalore as well as in other cities. But don’t wait for an announcement, go ahead and hug your neighbour, or better still your professor, or your boss!

—Kushali Madhwani

WOW BHUTAN

Celebrate International Women’s Day this month with a trip to Bhutan with the Women on Wanderlust (WOW) Club. The sixnight-seven-day trip has been organised by Sumita Senapaty, who operates WOW from Delhi and Bangalore.

Fly to Paro, visit the Cheri Monastery and Punakha Dzong, and hike to Chimi Lhakang in the country with the highest happiness quotient in the world.

Rest, shop and enjoy the beauty of this small country with a unique culture. From March 16 to 22. Bookings open this month.

Visit www.wowsumitra. com, or email me@wowsumitra.com.

RULING THE POOL

Bangalore has always had its share of water babies, with Nisha Millet ruling the pool for nearly a decade. The latest to make a splash is 22-year-old Rehan Poncha, with many coveted awards in the past year.

What Bangaloreans don’t know is that Rehan, son of Jehangir and Shirin Poncha, is also the nephew of Bollywood’s Boman Irani.

Currently ranked 40th in the world after contesting in the Beijing Olympics, Poncha hopes to get to the top 20 within two years. The swimmer trains in Basvangudi Aquatic Centre with coach Pradeep Kumar.

“Seeing the Indian flag flying high with other national flags at the Olympics gives you a boost and makes you try harder,” says Poncha, who won the Eklavya Award last year. He is gearing up for the world championship in Rome, the Asian championship and the National Games.

—Kushali Madhwani

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